Mineshaft Archives

Who is Running This Show?

2011 -- 30 JUNE -- Which council persons are reporting that the reason behind the walkout on Quartzsite's policemen and the AZCOPS VP was handled by Lizarraga on the ORDERS OF ALEXANDRA TAFT?

And, that considered, who orchestrated Tuesday's meeting?

Last night's meeting resulted in yet another fiasco that should not have occurred --Jennifer Harris Jones has the right to speak at Call to the Public for the three minutes normally allocated any other speaker in spite of whatever opinion might be held by members of the public or the councilmen themselves.

The statements she was making pertained to the improper adoption of new rules of procedure -- some of which are in violation of Arizona's Open Meetings Law. [Fewer people are allowed in the room, standing is prohibited, photography and videography are only allowed from one small area and Chief of Police Jeff Gilbert even attempted to force publisher Doug Guilford to choose between speaking and video recording the proceedings.]

To attempt to prevent her -- or anyone else -- from speaking only invites disaster.

Seemingly bent on destroying the meeting, Joe Winslow shouted for her to be removed, even going so far as to take a vote of the council [all of whom went along with this ridiculous ploy.]

You cannot challenge the First Amendment simply because you don't care for the speaker or even for what is being said. As I repeatedly stipulated during the course of this most damaging [to the Town of Quartzsite as well as to Jones] incident, I am the individual elected as Mayor and the proper running of these meetings are my responsibility.

Not to be dissuaded from his apparent mission to prevent Jones from speaking, Winslow continued demanding Jones be removed from the podium and, at this point, in spite of the lawsuits and investigations already underway here, the microphone was literally pried from hands of Jones by a female officer while Chief Jeff Gilbert stood with the two women yelling, "Do not resist the officer! Do not resist the officer!"

It was an embarrassing display. And one not missed by onlookers during the incident nor Internet reviewers this morning, particularly notable since Jones was taken by ambulance for examination and there is some level of injury to her left arm. Again, that microphone was wrestled from Jones' grasp by a female officer while Quartzsite Chief of Police Gilbert stood by, barking orders.

QTOWN.US reporter/publisher Doug Guilford promptly posted the video, which answers many questions and for which he should be commended, since every effort was made to see that making videos of the antics of our officials was strictly prohibited.

They've closed off the gallery to all but 83 residents and are forcing anyone doing videography to stand in one area so that varying views of any incident cannot be obtained.

There are many foreseeable problems likely to result from what occurred last evening.

1. Jones will have yet another reason to pursue a lawsuit and damages against the Town of Quartzsite.

2. The Open Meetings violations will, ultimately, come to light and the councilmen will be proven wrong yet again.

3. We will have an even more difficult time finding an attorney willing to act as a defense attorney for the town -- already proving to be a nearly impossible task.

And what was the point of all this?

That the issues with Quartzsite's government will somehow continue to be hidden? That the charges against the Chief of Police won't be investigated? That the lawsuits already underway against the town will be dropped? That no one will continue to ask to see all those hidden financial records? That the missing monies will magically 'reappear' and those 8-10 secret checks going out each and every payday for years [$200,000.00 per year] will be forgotten?

These things aren't going to happen.

In fact, the more outrageous the behavior of our elected officials, the 'more guilty' they look and the more scrutiny to which they can expect to be subjected.

Last night we set a new standard for 'outrageous' behavior on the part of our town and it's council.

And what did it change?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I'm Ed Foster, Mayor of Quartzsite
And this is yet another 'unauthorized press release.'

Simple Questions, Simple Answers

The Purpose of a Mayor

September 14, 2010 -- I want my constituents to know that in spite of the emotional displays that occurred Tuesday evening, this town -- this situation -- is not beyond hope, nor that far from neutral territory. Certainly there is an effort being made to convince you, though, that that is the situation.

Freedom of speech -- and the freedom of speech in public meetings -- has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Arizona. They have ruled that a person could express their opinion without fear of retribution. Their position is that the fear of retribution would have the effect of restricting free speech.

When Vice Mayor Barbaba Cowell ordered the Chief of Police to remove Resident Ron Burch, I guess she didn’t realize that she would be guilty of the same crime of which the ethics committee was accusing the Mayor -- depriving a citizen of his right to freedom of speech. A follow-through on this directive would have put the town in danger of yet another lawsuit.

The actions of the Chief of Police as well as the council members have already exposed this community to numerous lawsuits.

Early in my term of office, I attempted to change the law restricting who could run for office. This restriction resulted in three persons being denied the right to file papers to run for the last election and is already causing lawsuits to be prepared. Chief Gilbert's actions are also resulting in more lawsuits either pending or being prepared.

Currently, this has not resulted in any disciplinary action on the part of the council -- rather they took the Chief’s complaint about the Mayor to the limit of passing 'a resolution of censure.' Their claims of protecting the community from lawsuits ring rather hollow and really paints the action of the council as a politically motivated endeavor.

The council should follow the example the Mayor has set and sit quietly, listening when when citizens express opinions they don’t like. Their calls of “point of order” while interrupting people speaking from the podium are more that impolite -- they are an effort to restrict free speech.

First, point of order is to be used after everyone has had a chance to speak to the issue. It is not to be used to cut off debate and the audience is not allowed to call this from the floor.

It is time that Quartzsite's officials recognize that they are there to accommodate the voters and they are to represent their constituents who placed them into office to represent the body of people that make up the town's citizenry.

Instead, it's long been thought that Quartzsite operates as though these 'officials' are a force unto themselves -- that they are somehow 'above reproach' and that they should not be questioned.

In Bell, California, the situation was so grievous that the state is now changing the rules and regulations so that no other municipality should fall under the stern rule of just two or three people while the councilmen look on, unwilling to hold to any level of accountability nor to subject their leadership to the same.

The 40-page document HERE explains not only our rights but our responsibilities as citizens -- and addresses the critical issues facing Quartzsite today. Finally, the walls have to come down. I was elected because the citizens -- the majority of citizens in Quartzsite -- supported my candidacy because they felt shut out -- felt as though their voices were unwelcome and were not to be heard. Finally, they elected me because I promised there would be transparency and accountability in their local government.

It is this transparency that I am working to implement today -- in spite of the tremendous opposition I am currently encountering.

There are simple answers to the questions I am asking, and I have vowed that I will continue working for the right to review our current financial status. But I want you to know that the council is blocking every effort to allow me to do so -- and that is what has contributed to the current level of dissention many of you witnessed at Tuesday's council meeting.

Immediately upon my election when I attempted to see these records, the council passed a motion preventing me from seeing these records or asking for a report from the town's accounting firm, outlining our financial condition.

You will remember that in recent history the town manager indicated that the level of financial difficulty in Quartzsite warranted the town increase water and sewer rates -- promptly followed by 'Proposition 100' that would allow them to have 'immediate access' to these funds.

The people voted 'No!' on this issue and it failed outright.

So -- now -- the town obtained $ 1 million dollars borrowed against the town's water system. This water system was paid for many years ago. The population of Quartzsite is anything BUT burgeoning -- in fact, little or no growth whatsoever is expected. Why and how were these funds obtained -- and what are they being used for? How are they being spent? My questions have been blocked and I am forbidden from obtaining this information by the six sitting members of the council acting in unison with the town manager.

I can tell you there are many rumors concerning these funds -- and I will continue searching for the truth. But this is one area of contention -- and they are effectively preventing me from doing my job under the current restrictions they've imposed.

To simplify this issue, I will say this:

Public offices are necessary for the benefit of the public. Public servants are so named because they are said to be working for the 'public good.' When corruption occurs, this equation simply shifts and public officials begin working for 'private gain' instead of serving the greater good.

Corruption is carefully spelled out on page 13 of the above mentioned document and you will likely immediately recognize several of these areas as 'problematic' in Quartzsite. Among them are such items as bribery, extortion, influence peddling and fraud. Sometimes you will hear the term 'empire building.' This is where people use their positions to take control of virtually everything to which they can gain access.

They typically close doors against everyone outside their core groups -- and do not hire outsiders.

Not only does the governing body damage the whole in obvious ways -- taking monies that should have been allocated for the good of the public and for facilitating public endeavors, the community suffers in other ways. There is a high level of incompetence that becomes a stone wall of indifference and inaccessibility. Communications can become virtually non-existent. The group in charge no longer responds to their constituents or the desire of the whole -- instead, they are loyal only to each other, because that is where the 'power seat' exists.

Again, outsiders need not apply. Should an outsider be elected, all efforts to keep them from accessing key areas of information must become the priority.

A great deal of effort must now go into concealing the true nature of the group -- and to avoiding detection. Time, energy, planning -- all are required elements that must be dedicated to maintaining the control that's been established. Corruption necessitates documents be withheld and 'altered' according to need -- so all transparency requirements are forfeited. Again, these are time-consuming tasks. They -- and not the 'jobs' for which the individual was originally hired -- become the focus and the time allocated to them restricts the level and quality of the work they should be doing -- and this can have a negative effect on all aspects of the function of government, especially when there can be many individuals that are so engaged.

Quartzsite's officials have repeatedly blamed the fact that I have been involved in facilitating recalls. They have said that each recall election costs in the neighborhood of $7,000.00 and blamed this for their dissatisfaction with my election to the position of Mayor.

However, when they discovered I had been elected, they tripled the amount of money allocated to Pamela Walsma from about $33,000.00 per year to $ 100,000.00. Interestingly, this month, Ms. Walsma received $ 15,000.00 for one month's salary alone. Thus, at the current rate of spending, Ms. Walsma will receive $ 180,000.00 for just one year's service. This is a ridiculously exorbitant sum for a municipality of Quartzsite's size to be spending for the services of an attorney -- and particularly for the services of a virtually untrained municipal attorney. This is what a city or town would pay to an attorney that has specialized in this area of law for approximately 20 years.

Ms. Walsma, on the other hand, is unskilled in this area of law and has actually been soliciting the advice of other attorneys via the use of of message boards. She was told by several attorneys that this 'Ad Hoc' effort was futile. Yet she has received $ 15,000.00 and counting for facilitating this endeavor.

One of the statements by one of our councilmen made during Tuesday's meeting in reference to this fact [it was brought up during the meeting] would lead one to believe that the council did not know about Walsma's essentially improper use of the message boards.

Again, bearing the $ 7,000.00 recall figure in mind, consider this. When Steve Bennett took office and began to review the town's financial position, he immediately recognized that $ 300,000.00 to $ 400,000.00 allocated for the town's 'engineering fees' was outrageously improper. Bennett subsequently asked for and received guidance from other municipalities concerning the 'typical and reasonable' spending of funds for 'engineering' and discovered that a good 'rule of thumb' for a town the size of Quartzsite should be in the range of $ 50,000.00.

If Quartzsite is not concealing corruption, then perhaps they will see that withholding valid information from their constituents gives the appearance of corruption and should therefore be eliminated.

It's time that these outrageous levels of spending stop and Quartzsite -- like other cities and towns in Arizona -- begin 'living within their means.'

After all, 'transparency' takes many forms.

ATTACKS ON THE INCREASE, THE BATTLE IS HEATING UP

For Such A Time As This

I want to inform my constituents that I am thankful for this -- the opportunity to serve Quartzsite -- and I believe that we will ultimately be instrumental in preventing this municipality from seeing total devastation.

After announcements from exiting acting Mayor Walter Akin and exiting councilman Hal Davidson that Quartzsite 'is broke, broke, broke,' we are suddenly hearing from Councilman Lukkasson that Quartzsite is fine: that there is no financial crisis facing this municipality.

What?

Apparently, the town's manager has suddenly put forth documentation to show that there is no problem with the town's fiscal wellbeing. In fact, in a letter to the editor another individual has stepped forward to announce that there are actually surpluses for the last two years.

What a feat! From financial devastation to a position of solvency in the blink of an eye!

But for the discerning -- the intelligent, concerned and aware citizen -- these 'revelations' are simply more red flags, indicating that someone, somewhere is concerned that there are simply too many 'critical eyes' looking at the town's financial position and asking for answers.

Please note that the budget, not made available to me until a Thursday afternoon, was followed by a work session on Friday, giving me less than the required by law 24 hours notice that there was going to be a work session to review a 49 page document that represents the entire one year of budgeted items totaling
$ 11,357,000.00 to establish what questions I might want to bring up at the work session.

I have been responsible for budgets throughout my career and I am quite familiar with how such matters are to be handled. This -- clearly -- is not the way to do a thorough job.

That Tuesday they passed said budget, essentially without review much less comprehensive questions -- because given the short timeframe involved for proper review [2 hours Thursday, 2 hours Friday and 8 hours each on that Monday and Tuesday] gives them a total of 20 hours to accurately review for passage a 49 page document encompassing well over
$ 11 MILLION in expenditures.

Then -- AS IF BY MAGIC -- someone somewhere is suddenly willing to throw Mr. Akin as well as Mr. Davidson under the bus of public opinion and state -- unequivocally -- that there is no problem with the town's financial condition.

It would be entertaining were it not such a ridiculous effort to disguise and distort the facts that are given to Quartzsite's citizens, most of whom are still looking at these sitting officials in startled surprise.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

At no time has a forensic audit more plausible, more necessary, more appropriate.

For months we've listened as the town's officials have touted Quartzsite's dire financial position as the reason behind the drastic water rate increases, the reason for calling in RDS to go after whatever revenue sources remain untapped in our community -- even the consideration of a prison complex!

Yet, in spite of all of this, the announcement has been made that Quartzsite is now instantly, documentably, magically solvent.

You'll excuse me if I ask to see those documents, won't you?

Because I've seen efforts to disguise true insolvency issues before, and this has all the earmarks of a smoke and mirrors job that would rival the best in the land.

I'm Ed Foster. 'The guy' that's going to continue asking the tough questions.

Best Regards,

Ed Foster

Welcome, Friends:

There still seems to be incorrect information circulating pertinent to the Mayoral position, I hope that this document will clarify those issues. [See: MAYOR]

As some of you may remember, under these rules, Richard Oldham had had to forfeit his council seat in order to run for the office of Mayor. As this document clearly shows, the Mayoral office is an official position. Thus, those that insist on referring to me as 'Councilman Mayor Foster' can clearly see that that is an incorrect term.

Again, I want to stress that I am committed to discovering what actions have resulted in creating the financial disaster that Quartzsite faces today. While I do not wish to cause difficulty for our sitting councilmen, I do find it interesting that they are so dedicated to blocking my efforts to properly review what financial records do exist -- and it is of grave concern that records have been removed from the Town Hall offices in the absence of Ms. Norris, whose job it is to control those records.

It is my intention and my hope to work toward consistency and competence, accountability and transparency in government. While I am disappointed in Mr. Winslow and Mr. Lukkasson's efforts, I will not be dissuaded from accomplishing the task at hand: it was the platform on which I ran and I am accountable -- first and foremost -- to my constituents.

I wish to thank those -- both local and those following Quartzsite from afar -- for their letters of support and for their dedication to understanding these issues. It has made my position a far more enjoyable task to know that there is widespread support for my position, and that others before me have discovered themselves facing the same plight.

By standing together, these issues can be surmounted. Quartzsite only stands to benefit from a strong and dedicated leadership, interested only in serving the greater good.

Best Regards,

Mayor Ed Foster

UPDATE: At the regular meeting of the Quartzsite Town Council yesterday evening, I was promised the documentation that I would be provided the documentation I've been requesting concerning funds that have been paid to two town employees totaling almost $ 2,000.00 for a two week period.

I was to be able to pick up that paperwork today. When I arrived at Town Hall to pick up the paperwork, I was verbally assaulted in town hall by Councilman Joe Winslow. My readers know Winslow as the councilman that threatened -- on the town's tape as the mics were being turned on -- to "machine gun about five of 'em in the front row..."

When I arrived to pick up the pay vouchers as promised, I was informed that the pay vouchers would not be shown to me as promised.

Ms. Taft informed me through Karen Norris that I would not be getting access to the pay vouchers but would be receiving a report 'okayed' by the attorney. I stepped into the doorway of Ms. Taft's office to inquire why I had been provided the pay vouchers for Dan Field and Mark Skogland when they left the employ of the town, but now -- even as Mayor -- am not allowed to see these records pertaining to what amounts to significant payments made to two town employees via 'direct deposit.'

Mr. Winslow and Ms. Anderson were in the office with Ms. Taft and Mr. Winslow jumped up and charged toward me, shouting that I had no business in that office and he said, "Get the hell out of here."

Ms. Anderson was alarmed enough that she shouted at Mr. Winslow, "Don't touch him!"

I backed away, not wanting a confrontation with Mr. Winslow and left town hall.

On the way home I met Larry Pickett at the post office and was informed that a call had gone out for police assistance at town hall.

In fact, as I continue to raise questions pertinent to the actions of our sitting council as well as the Town Manager Alex Taft -- and as I question Quartzsite's legal counsel -- as is my responsibility to do -- one councilman, Jerry Lukkasson, wrote me and then published his letter to hand out at the council meeting apparently concerning a comment I raised about the Rules of Order and proper meeting protocol.

To clarify this matter, it must first be understood that the Quartzsite Town Policy and Procedures Manual now comprises a considerable amount of information and is constantly being revised -- while the format in which these changes are communicated to elected officials is essentially antiquated.

Providing our councilmen with a searchable database of information [DVD, CD, or online] would allow them to be absolutely clear on what rules and regulations govern our meetings.

Mr. Lukkasson may want to familiarize himself with the terms 'argumentum ad hominem' and 'ad hominem abusive.'

His efforts to impugn my character and attack my methods are indicative of a larger picture -- an effort to distract us from the issues at hand. We cannot afford to deviate from the course of action on which we've already embarked.

1. The citizens of Quartzsite have a right to know [See: FOIA] what monies are spent and how they are allocated.
2. The amount of Town of Quartzsite checks and DIRECT DEPOSIT TRANSACTIONS are also a matter of public record.
3. It is ILLEGAL to withhold information from the Mayor and other elected officials.
4. It is ILLEGAL to withhold information from the citizens of Quartzsite who have taken the time to submit FOIA requests.
5. It is ILLEGAL to transport Town of Quartzsite records outside the Town Hall property.
6. It is ILLEGAL to transport Town of Quartzsite records away from Quartzsite.
7. It is ILLEGAL to violate Arizona State Law concerning the handling of Town records.
8. It is ILLEGAL to violate Arizona State Law concerning the disposal of Town records.
9. It is ILLEGAL to violate Arizona State Law concerning the recycling of Town records.

These are not suggestions: they're LAWS. Our Town officials and Town employees are required BY LAW to OBEY these laws and hold themselves accountable UNDER THE LAW.

There are many more areas currently under review at this time. I will suffice it to say this:

I was elected to be the Mayor of Quartzsite. For those that may not know it, the position of Mayor, historically, has been one of a liaison between the people and their government.

It is correct for the people to come to me with their concerns and it is my responsibility to carry those concerns before our elected officials to allow them to respond to those concerns.

It is widely known that a wide segment of Quartzsite's citizens believe that there is wrongdoing on the part of our leadership.

All I have done both before and since my election is make the effort to obtain the truth -- to perform my duty as the duly elected Mayor of this town to develop and promote transparency in our government -- to allow the citizens to find evidence of wrongdoing or lay aside their suspicions.

Instead, the efforts of our Town Manager and all of our councilmen have been geared not toward addressing these issues straightforwardly while utilizing methods that could be described as 'above board' but -- instead -- toward stonewalling, the suppression of information, the smuggling of documents away from Town Hall while the person rightfully responsible for those documents was away on vacation, the willful 'dumping' of Town documentation into recycling bins.

Such activities as have been undertaken are a tragedy for our citizens and a travesty of justice. And such activities clearly lend credence to those many charges of corruption that have already been leveled at these same individuals.

Mr. Lukkasson's attacks against me -- point for point -- are vague and without merit and so transparent are his efforts to deflect the negative attention from the true issues that I point them out here only to properly refute his charges.

'Ad hominem abusive' is defined as "usually insulting or belittling one's opponent but can also involve pointing out character flaws or actions which are irrelevant to the opponent's argument. This tactic is logically fallacious because insults and even true negative facts about the opponent's character have nothing to do with the logical merits of the opponents arguments or assertions."

I would suggest to Mr. Lukkasson that he stick to the elements of these cases at hand and abandon the effort to attack my personal integrity. If he has any complaints against me -- if anyone has complaints against me -- I ask that they direct their comments according to true standards of conduct, and address the issue or issues without flagrant attempts to attack that have no merit.

In an apparent attempt to discredit me, Councilman Lukkasson, has attempted to point out that the Mayor does not have the responsibility of directing the meeting nor the Power of the Agenda. In fact, the attempt by the council in two heavily criticized motions to remove the Power of the Agenda from the Mayor only after I was elected and had not even been allowed to assume my post has not yet become law. And since the disempowerment of the Mayor [as directed by Alex Taft during the last two meetings during which she placed these items on the agenda for passage by the council] will likely not be allowed to be passed, his comments are premature, at best.

Mr. Lukkasson is mistakenly assuming that these items are not going to become referendum issues. And even if the new rules were accepted, before the agenda can proceed, Taft first must have an agenda meeting and then have a meeting with the Mayor. All the agendas over which I -- as Mayor -- have presided since being sworn in as Mayor have been illegally presented.

Mr. Lukkasson's letter implies that these changes have already taken effect -- but they have not and, actually would not have until June 26, 2010. Now, it looks as though the effort to disempower the position of Mayor has essentially been prevented. We cannot know with certainty until the Petitions for Referendum have been turned in but the numbers have consistently indicated that this will be so.

Mr. Lukkasson has seemingly forgotten that my entire campaign was based upon my promises to the good people of Quartzsite that I would investigate the causes behind the financial insolvency that is now plaguing Quartzsite. That I would review and bring forward the issues that I believed were contributing to the demise of business within the town -- and that I would strive to make certain that all of the citizens of Quartzsite were being fairly and equitably represented.

I am specifically doing the job that I was elected to do -- for the people, by those people that elected me.

In my successful careers -- first as a Marine and, later, an engineer -- it was my responsibility to educate and train others and to hold myself to a high level of accountability.

It is actually I that have repeatedly requested that our elected officials behave themselves professionally and ethically, leaving personalities aside and, hopefully, striving for a strong and committed community, working toward the betterment of all

Best Regards,

Ed Foster, Mayor

DENIALS OF DOCUMENTATION REQUESTS RAISE MORE QUESTIONS

Editor's Note: During my campaign as Mayor, I discovered that there were many people in Quartzsite that harbored suspicions about the Town and the handling of those 'community' funds that are part of the property that belongs to the town.

Among those that voiced their concerns during that time were some that were actually on the town's payroll. These people understand that they are not only privy to what happens at the governmental level in Quartzsite -- they are also responsible for those matters that come to their attention that are not within the realm of 'normal.'

It is these people that brought their concerns to me that are now of primary concern to me.

I have, since my election, begun to ask questions based upon the information these dedicated people brought to my attention.

There are no easy answers for their questions. And the pointed questions that I am asking since my election are intended to put an end to speculation that there are things wrong in Quartzsite that everyone wants to remain hidden.

That's simply not true. There are concerned people that are employed by the town. I intend to see that their questions are answered once and for all -- and whatever wrongs committed, made right.

It is unfortunate that Ms. Taft has taken this position. It is interesting to note that when an angry response to these revelations occurs, it only brings more whistleblowers to the fore -- and the citizens win either way.

It is much the same with the transparent effort to withhold this information. With that, I am handed the very tools I need to bring more officials into the fray and the situation breeds more interest, more onlookers and more legal assistance.

And once again, Quartzsite's officials are publicly seen as rogue, unprofessional and incompetent -- or worse.

It is for this reason that I am disappointed to have to report that efforts are being made to block me from obtaining the documentation that I need to do a comprehensive investigation of a series of questionable payments -- and to whom those monies were paid.

$8,977.31 was paid to person or persons unknown over a two week period, and the information pertinent to these expenditures is being withheld by our Town Manager, Alex Taft.

She has effectively [albeit temporarily] prohibited my acquisition of these reports, forcing me to resort to FOIA to obtain the information that should be readily made available to me as Mayor of the town.

Taft has also taken steps to remove the Town Clerk from my direct supervision, and placing her under that of Ms. Taft.

And at that same Council Meeting [of June 9, 2010,] I am also -- at the behest of Joe Winslow -- prohibited from asking for any reports not approved by the entire council in advance. Thus my questions are now being blocked -- to obtain the name of the payee, the amount of the additional payment and the stated reason for payments above the approved payment [or salary] amounts are all viable questions that must be answered.

And so, at this point in time, I have no alternative but to resort to FOIA because the council can not legislate away a citizen's right to know under the Freedom of Information Act. Ignoring or denying the FOIA requests only works to bring the town under questioning from FOIA officials.

The referendum, of course, is already underway and enjoying widespread support.

Such a referendum will provide a permanent injunction prohibiting these actions from taking effect until the next general election to be held in May 2012.

Most legislative bodies will generally choose to repeal an unpopular action without allowing a referendum if it is actively challenged by the citizenry, in part because once it comes to a referendum, it becomes a permanent law and only the people can change it in the future.

I am, at this point, hopeful that the councilmen with whom I share my responsibility will begin to act according to the best interest of the people of Quartzsite, recognizing that they were elected to represent the people and not the select interests of the few.

Best Regards,

Ed Foster, Mayor

Editor's Note: By now, most of you know that I was sworn in as Mayor of Quartzsite Tuesday evening, May 25, 2010 and I happily look forward to serving my community and beginning the process of keeping my promises and developing a dedicated policy of transparency in our local government.

I am aware that there are -- and have been throughout my candidacy -- many rumors circulating concerning what actions I will take once in office. I can and do assure my constituents that there will be no tremendous changes. I do not intend to 'do away with the police force nor the library,' and I am not part of any effort to defame or undermine any of our officials.

I am, after all, just one of seven voices on a council. My responsibility is to 'officiate over the meetings' and administer council actions. I am to be straightforward in my approach and directly accessible to the people as well as to my fellow council members.

While Quartzsite faces a dire financial future, we can and will work to assure our town employees a future with the Town of Quartzsite. We have much to which we can look forward with anticipation and good will. I am of strong faith in our people that we can work toward healing and a sound effort can only result in working well with each other.

I intend to honor my commitments to my constituents regarding the concerns brought forth during my candidacy. Every effort will be made to rebuild the community participation in our governmental structure and I hope to make those changes with the support of a strong and dedicated council.

In all, I am honored and humbled to be given this opportunity to serve this great community and I look forward to working with all of you.

Best Regards,

Ed Foster

P.S. While I, personally, am a teetotaler, in the early days of my campaign I enjoyed the support of a karaoke group at the Quartzsite's infamous Yacht Club and that of a group of people that frequently gather for pizza at Silly Al's Pizza, also on Main Street. I also still visit the Citizen's Coalition meetings held at Paradise RV Park on Moon Mountain Road as well as other locations where my supporters and constituents gather periodically. My goal is to remain accessible to those people that put me in office, and to maintain dedicated to them, willing to listen to any concerns they may have.

Please feel free to contact me at the number listed on the contact page and join us at your convenience. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Edward L. Foster
Post Office Box 956
Quartzsite, Arizona 85346

E-MAIL:
DeepInTheDirt@QUARTZSITEMINESHAFT.COM

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Verifying the Facts:

In Quartzsite, when listening to complaints about the media, find out why they're complaining.

Then read whatever publication they've said they're reading and make certain they are not misrepresenting the content. Compare facts to fiction.

Then find out how they're related to the sitting town council or representatives of the sitting town council and ask them this:

Why are they afraid of The MINESHAFT?

E-MAIL:
DeepInTheDirt@QUARTZSITEMINESHAFT.COM